HIGHLIGHTS

Research

I. Insights on the PSC

Amani Africa’s flagship work, Insights on the PSC, provides current information and independent analysis ahead of PSC sessions to inform the preparation for and deliberation of Council members on the agenda of each session of the PSC. During September, the series covered child protection, women, peace and security, regional cooperation against terrorism, and Africa Amnesty Month.

• Protection of Child Soldiers in Africa (UNSCR 1612 (2005)) | 1 September 2026

In addition to highlighting the persistence of the challenge of child soldiers in Africa, including the nature and scale of the six grave violations against children in conflict situations, this edition of the Insight on the PSC pointed out the finding that state and government forces accounted for more violations than non-state armed groups. It highlighted how the PSC advances progress in relation to the agenda on children affected by armed conflicts through stronger implementation tracking of earlier PSC commitments and accountability.

• High-Level Ministerial Seminar on Women, Peace and Security | 8 September 2026

Ahead of the second Swakopmund Process ministerial seminar, the analysis examined the current state of the WPS agenda, including the policy-to-implementation gap across the prevention, participation and protection pillars of the WPS agenda. It focused on meaningful participation in formal peace processes, operationalising quota and parity commitments, predictable financing, stronger prevention and protection measures, and more systematic monitoring and accountability.

• Commemoration of the 2026 Africa Amnesty Month | 13 September 2026

This edition of Insights on the PSC provided background information and analysis on the state of circulation of SALW and the use of anti-personnel mines, as well as outcomes of previous sessions of the PSC on the Africa Amnesty Month. To register progress, it called for moving from general discussion to concrete action in relation to specific conflict situations. It pointed out that this can be achieved through an independent report identifying the sources and channels of supply of arms in conflict situations, such as that requested by the communiqué of the 1218^th session of the PSC on Sudan. It thus emphasised that ‘[i]n the absence of effective follow-up on such decisions, the commemoration of the Amnesty Month will remain part of the declaratory engagements disconnected from and lacking tangible relevance in respect to any of the conflict settings on the continent.’

• Good Neighbourliness and Regional Responses to Security and Terrorism Challenges in Africa | 22 September 2026

The analysis considered how the thematic focus of this session shifts the discussion about terrorism from a focus on trends and technical responses to the political and strategic question of ‘how the state of relations among neighbouring countries affects their ability to respond collectively to terrorism and other security threats.’ Drawing on the 2004 Solemn Declaration on Common African Defence and Security Policy and the Declaration on a Code of Conduct for Inter-African Relations, it highlighted how this question affects the effectiveness of regional and continental responses to conflicts and terrorism in Africa.

II. Monthly Digest

• August Monthly Digest | August 2026

The August Monthly Digest reviews the PSC’s key engagements during the month, including education in conflict, developments in the Sahel and South Sudan, the Sudan field mission, progress on Silencing the Guns, and consultations involving PAP, ACHPR and continental early warning mechanisms.

III. Ideas Indaba

Ideas Indaba is Amani Africa’s platform for workshopping opinion, commentary and policy debate on current developments that are of concern or interest for Africa and the AU.

• African Union’s 2011 peacemaking in Libya: Lessons for the Review of the African Peace and Security Architecture | 14 September 2026

The article revisits the AU’s 2011 Libya mediation to draw lessons for the APSA review. It highlights how weak AU–UN coordination, rejection of mediation by one conflict party, external military intervention and institutional capacity constraints undermined the AU’s effort. It underscores early coordination with the UN, securing buy-in from all conflict parties, stronger professional mediation support and greater coherence among African actors.

• The 18 September UNSC Straw Poll for the selection of Antonio Guterres’s successor opens the race wide as an African’s chance as a consensus candidate grows | 20 September 2026

This Ideas Indaba article analysed the 18 September UNSC straw poll for selecting the next UN Secretary-General. While noting the strong performance of the frontrunner and the temporarily improved standing of Olara Otunnu, it established that the poll left the race wide open, with the possibility of some candidates starting to exit the race as several of them lost significant ground.

• From State Making to State Unmaking: The Horn of Africa and the Rise of Permanent War in a Changing Regional Environment | 21 September 2026

The article argues that the Horn of Africa is increasingly part of a single Red Sea security theatre in which external alliances, ports, drones, proxy relationships and war economies can erode rather than consolidate state authority. Framing this as a reversal of the idea that war makes states, it calls for peacemaking to become an instrument of statecraft and for the AU and IGAD to develop a sustained Horn of Africa–Red Sea framework.

• Sudan Is Still Possible: A UN General Assembly Opportunity to Turn Mediation into Action | 23 September 2026

Against the backdrop of Sudan’s worsening war and humanitarian crisis, the article argues that existing mediation mechanisms have produced a foundation but not yet a common strategy. It calls for coordinated Quad–Quintet action around a shared political destination, humanitarian de-escalation, external restraint, a disciplined division of labour and a time-bound action plan, alongside a minimum national platform from Sudanese political and civic actors.

STRATEGIC CONVENING, OUTREACH & MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

I. Policy Dialogue forums

• The AU’s Role in the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict: Recentering the Principle of Non-Indifference in the Implementation of the Luanda Summit Outcome and the APSA Review | 4 September 2026

Amani Africa convened, with the participation of Amnesty International, a policy dialogue examining how the Luanda Summit outcome and the APSA review can translate into stronger AU action for civilian protection, particularly in Sudan, the DRC and the Sahel. The discussion focused on recentering the principle of non-indifference, strengthening accountability, ensuring more effective AU follow-up on protection commitments, and promoting the meaningful inclusion of affected communities and civil society in AU protection decisions.

• From the Luanda Summit to the Finalisation of APSA: Revitalising the AU’s Role in Conflict Prevention and Resolution | 30 September 2026

The policy dialogue examined how the outcomes of the Luanda Summit can inform the finalisation of the APSA review and strengthen the AU’s role in conflict prevention and resolution. It focused on practical ways to enhance the AU’s agency in major conflict situations, strengthen early warning and preventive diplomacy, and improve the effectiveness of AU peacemaking and mediation mechanisms.

II. Selected Strategic Engagements

• Working session with Cameroon’s Permanent Mission to the AU | 18 September 2026

Amani Africa hosted H.E. Ambassador Ewumbue Monono and Cameroon’s PSC team for a working session. During the session, the two sides held exchanges on the PSC’s October Provisional Programme of Work under Cameroon’s chairship. The engagement also identified areas for close collaboration during Cameroon’s chairship.

• Meeting with H.E. Ambassador Fiseha of Ethiopia’s Permanent Mission to the AU | 18 September 2026

Amani Africa held a meeting with H.E. Ambassador Lemlem Fiseha. The exchanges focused on current PSC matters. Significantly, it served to discuss modalities for follow-up on Amani Africa’s recent engagement with Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs on COP32 and our work on climate, peace and security.

• Presentation on advancing the Luanda Summit outcome on conflict prevention | 17 September 2026

Drawing on the body of work built over time and an upcoming policy brief, Amani Africa Director Dr Solomon A. Dersso outlined why the core gap in conflict prevention is political, what makes up this gap & its sources and what needs to be done & how, during a presentation at the AU PAPS Department expert meeting on how to take the outcome of the Luanda Summit forward on conflict prevention and the conditions needed for effective preventive diplomacy, including trust, sustained engagement, diplomatic persuasion, political buy-in and collective responsibility.

• Amani Africa welcomed H.E. Ambassador Berggrav of the Royal Norwegian Embassy | 24 September 2026

Amani Africa welcomed Ambassador-designate Yngvild Berggrav and Deputy Head of Mission Signe Guro Gilen to our office. On the occasion, we held exchanges on Amani Africa’s work, current regional and continental issues and opportunities to deepen our cooperation.

• Intervention on climate, peace and security at UNECA | 10 September 2026

Dr Solomon Dersso highlighted the need for precision on the climate–peace–security nexus as a necessary requirement for avoiding policy incoherence. It underscored that the resolution of the adverse impacts of climate change, including on peace and security, depends on the implementation of the climate change commitments of adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage, while the value of the climate, peace and security agenda lies in whether it advances such implementation and whether it facilitates greater access to climate funding for conflict-affected and fragile countries, which currently have the least access.

• Received H.E. Ambassador Annika Allman, Ambassador-Designate of Canada’s Observer Mission to the AU | 24 September 2026

Amani Africa had the pleasure of welcoming Ambassador-designate Annika Allman to our office. The occasion served to discuss Canada’s priorities as an AU observer, Amani Africa’s work and possible areas of collaboration.

• Engagement with the ICRC Delegation to the African Union | 21 September 2026

Amani Africa welcomed an ICRC delegation to our office. It formally received the new Head of Delegation, Ibrahima Tounkara, and held extensive exchanges on shared priorities and areas for joint collaboration, including with respect to the AU’s theme of the year for 2026.

• Received Pirjo-Liisa Heikkila, the Embassy of Finland | 29 September 2026

Amani Africa welcomed Pirjo-Liisa Heikkilä, Deputy Head of Mission of Finland and Deputy Permanent Representative to the AU. The occasion served to discuss Amani Africa’s work, the impact that Amani Africa’s work supported by Finland registered and ongoing areas of collaboration.

• Exchange with the Korea National Diplomatic Academy delegation | 18 September 2026

Amani Africa held discussions with a Korea National Diplomatic Academy delegation on how shifts in the global order are testing multilateral institutions, the implications for regional powers and the Global South, and prospects for cooperation and reform.

III. Media References

Amani Africa’s analysis continued to gain external visibility, with its work referenced by media and research platforms covering peace, security and regional developments in Africa.

• An article published in the Guardian, Nigeria, made favourable reference to Amani Africa’s special research report on the APSA review. It noted, among others, that the Addis Ababa-based think tank, Amani Africa, in August 2026 provided ‘a detailed response to the AU report.’
• Amani Africa’s analysis on good neighbourliness and regional responses to security and terrorism challenges was referenced by SPACE and Sin Cortes in their coverage of conflict, peace and regional developments.

HIGHLIGHTS

Research

I. Insights on the PSC

Amani Africa’s flagship work, Insights on the PSC, provides current information and independent analysis ahead of PSC sessions to inform the preparation for and deliberation of Council members on the agenda of each session of the PSC. During August, the series tracked both country/region specific and thematic agenda items.

• Education in Conflict Situations | 2 August 2026

This edition of Insights on the PSC offered background analysis on previous engagements of the PSC on the theme and recent trends concerning education in various conflict settings. It identified four policy issues on the agenda of the session: protecting education, sustaining continuity of learning, recovery and inclusion, and financing and measuring delivery.

• Quarterly briefing by the A3 to the PSC | 4 August 2026

In this edition, the analysis shed light on efforts towards and gaps in institutionalizing the quarterly briefing by the African three (A3+) members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) as an avenue for enhancing close coordination between the PSC and the A3+. Apart from highlighting the factors that constrain the operation of the A3+ as an increasingly influential bloc in the UNSC such as weak strategic guidance and coordination with PSC on files of concern for Africa on the agenda of the UNSC, it drew attention to the need for operaitonalising the modalities the PSC identified over the years for enabling the A3+ to effectively project the collective voice of Africa on the basis of AU decisions including PSC–A3+ coordination mechanisms, enhanced role in agenda-setting and penholding, and strengthening accountability to the AU.

• Update on the situation in the Sahel | 6 August 2026

The analysis assessed the deepening security and humanitarian crisis in the Sahel amid escalating terrorist violence and changing external partnerships. It highlighted renewed AU engagement and the need to rebuild regional cooperation around a multidimensional response linking governance, security and development.

• Progress made in Silencing the Guns in Africa roadmap: Revitalisation | 11 August 2026

The analysis in this edition provided an assessment of why Africa’s deteriorating conflict landscape remains sharply at odds with the Silencing the Guns (STGs) program of the AU and as the 2030 deadline approaches. It drew on a special research report that assessed the first ten-year implementation of STGs, highlighting the gaps that stunted progress and the policy actions required to change the trajectory of conflicts.

• Consultation between the PSC, the AGA–APSA Platform and the PRC Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance | 13 August 2026

This edition of Insights on the PSC focused on recent efforts in establishing dialogue with structures of AU’s Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) having relevant mandate and the need for bridging institutional silos by strengthening coordination across governance, human rights, democracy, peace and security.

• Consultative Meeting Between the Peace and Security Council and the Pan-African Parliament | 18 August 2026

The analysis in this edition examined how to give greater substance to the institutionalised annual PSC–PAP consultation and the complementary peace and security mandates of the two organs. It focused on implementing earlier commitments and strengthening structured cooperation, parliamentary engagement and follow-up.

• PSC–ACHPR Consultation | 20 August 2026

In this edition, the analysis centred on making the Article 19 relationship between the PSC and ACHPR more operational and effective. It emphasised the need for oprationalising modalities for close working relationship identified in various earlier consultative meetings between the PSC and the human rights body, including consistent information exchange and more systematic use of human-rights findings and mechanisms to support conflict prevention, early warning and PSC decision-making.

• Coordination between AUCTC–APRM–CISSA–AFRIPOL on Continental Early Warning Systems | 23 August 2026

On this session, the analysis focused on moving from parallel institutional reporting towards an integrated continental risk picture linking security, governance, intelligence and policing information. It stressed that the emerging threats-and-risks mapping tools should function as decision-support mechanisms that connect early warning to timely preventive action.

• Briefing on the Situation in South Sudan | 25 August 2026

This edition of Insights on the PSC assessed South Sudan’s worsening political, security and humanitarian environment as the December 2026 elections fast approach. It highlighted the need for an objective assessment of electoral readiness, implementation of outstanding transition commitments and sustained AU and regional engagement to avert renewed large-scale conflict in the context of an electoral process convened in conditions of major institutional and legal gaps and political and security volatility.

• PSC’s Provisional Programme of Work for September 2026 | 31 August 2026 

Issued at the end of August, this edition of Insights on the PSC presented analysis of PSC’s Provisional Program of Work (PPoW) for September 2026, during Benin’s chairing of the Council. The analysis offered background information on the agenda of the five substantive sessions, alongside the major commemorative and high-level engagements envisaged for the month.

• Briefing on the Situation in the Central African Republic | 31 August 2026

The Insight assessed developments in CAR against the backdrop of recent developments in the peace process, continuing security fragility and discussions on a possible MINUSCA drawdown or reconfiguration. It stressed that any adjustment should be conditions-based and carefully sequenced, while calling for a clear AU position ahead of UN Security Council deliberations.

II. Special Research Reports

• Revitalising African Union’s Role in Peace and Security: Insights and Lessons from AU’s Ad Hoc Mechanisms for Peace | 12 August 2026

Against the background of AU’s recent declining agency in peace and security amid proliferating conflicts, weakening multilateralism and growing external intervention, the report provided analysis on lessons from AU’s ad hoc peace mechanisms. It identified insights on how strategic leadership, mobilization of collective consensus and member states support, strategic guidance and follow up by the PSC, the articulation of factually and analytically sound peacemaking strategy, strong technical and logistic support, strategic coherence and coordination for mobilizing leverage can help revitalise the AU’s conflict-prevention and resolution roles.

• Review of African Union’s Peace and Security Architecture in a New Era of Insecurity and Global Uncertainty | 27 August 2026

Produced to complement the AU’s report on the review of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), this special report situates the AU Assembly-mandated review of APSA within the context of the new era of conflicts and threats on the continent and the disorder that characterizes the multilateral system. It examines how APSA should be adapted and strengthened to improve political effectiveness, strategic coherence and the AU’s role in peace and security in a changing context.

III. Ideas Indaba

Ideas Indaba is Amani Africa’s platform for workshopping opinion, commentary and debate on current developments affecting Africa and the AU.

• Regional order and the new geopolitics of ports, maritime infrastructure, and transport corridors in the Horn of Africa | 3 August 2026

Arguing that ports and transport corridors are transformed into strategic instruments in the Horn of Africa, in which economic integration, sovereignty, security, political authority and geopolitical alignment are negotiated, our latest Ideas Indaba feature article, by Dr Seife Ayalew, makes a case for why the governance of infrastructure needs to become part of the region’s peace architecture.

• With no viable collective plan emerging from the AU and Kampala summit, it falls on each AUSSOM TCC to plan for saving itself individually | 7 August 2026

The Ideas Indaba feature article warns that the announced end of U.S. support for continuing UNSOS beyond December 2026 could leave AUSSOM operationally incapable even if its mandate is renewed. As the Kampala Summit did not produce a viable collective worst-case contingency plan, it argues that troop-contributing countries should prepare individual plans for an orderly withdrawal if replacement financing and logistics are not secured.

• Libya’s latest turmoil has the hallmarks of the African Union Peace and Security Council’s diagnosis of why its transition remains stalled | 14 August 2026

The Ideas Indaba article, reacting to the latest incidents of violence and PSC’s most recent session, links Libya’s latest political, security and economic shocks to three structural problems identified by the PSC: institutional and political fragmentation, the shadow or war economy and external interference. It argues that while the PSC’s diagnosis is broadly accurate, AU prescriptions have yet to match the depth of the factors perpetuating Libya’s stalled transition.

• Africa’s stake in the future of the UN | 24 August 2026

The article argues that the weakening of multilateralism is a strategic concern for Africa that makes the selection of the new UN Secretary-General a matter of major policy engagement. Instead of being a matter to be approached passively, the prevailing geopolitical developments necessitate an active role by Africa and the AU to ensure that the selection produces someone who possesses the qualities of a political leader of unusual competence, independence and judgement that helps the UN navigate the prevailing fraught multilateral terrain and deliver a reform. It calls on Africa to engage earlier and more coherently so that it becomes a co-author, rather than merely a subject, of the multilateral system that emerges.

• The Luanda AU summit should declare a state of emergency on the conflict situations | 30 August 2026

Ahead of the Luanda Extraordinary AU Summit, this Ideas Indaba article argues that Africa’s proliferating conflicts require emergency-level political action rather than business-as-usual summitry or further declaratory commitments. It calls for concrete, measurable and time-bound measures that use the AU’s diplomatic and normative tools to arrest the continent’s worsening conflict trajectory.

STRATEGIC OUTREACH & MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

I. Selected Strategic Engagements

• Engagement with Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs | 7 August 2026

Amani Africa was received by H.E. Dr Gedion Timothewos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. The exchange covered Amani Africa’s work and areas for closer collaboration, including AU reform, Dr Gedion’s role as President of COP32 and nurturing a dynamic multilateral policy ecosystem that reinforces Addis Ababa’s role as a premier diplomatic hub.

• Exchange on AU institutional revitalisation and reform with the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission | 7 August 2026

A team of Amani Africa led by the organisation’s Founding Director met H.E. Amb. Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission. The meeting involved substantive exchange on the AU’s institutional revitalisation and reform. The discussion covered peace, security and governance priorities and identified the AU Reform Agenda, including financing of the Union, as an area for continued engagement.

• Engagement with Desire Assogbavi of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) | 27 August 2026

Amani Africa welcomed Desire Assogbavi, Advocacy Advisor for Africa, and Huda Ibrahim, Advocacy Advisor for the United States, from the OSF. In addition to on-going processes for institutional collaboration between OSF and Amani Africa, discussions explored challenges and opportunities for strengthening AU leadership in governance, conflict prevention and resolution, as well as upcoming collaboration around the AU Summit.

II. Media appearances and references

Amani Africa’s analysis continued to inform public reporting on African peace and security developments.

• AFP / Addis Standard | 1 August 2026

In reporting on uncertainty surrounding AUSSOM following the U.S. decision not to support continuation of UNSOS beyond December 2026, Amani Africa’s Founding Director, Dr. Solomon Dersso, was quoted as warning that there was little prospect of sustaining the mission if U.S. support for UNSOS ends.

• Somali Guardian | 10 August 2026

A Somali Guardian report on the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Burhakaba cited Amani Africa’s analysis featured in an Ideas Indaba article that analysed the Kampala Summit, including its assessment of the gap between AUSSOM’s requirements and available financing and logistics and the need to plan for a worst-case scenario.

• Addis Standard |11 August 2026

Addis Standard cited Amani Africa’s assessment that the Kampala Summit exposed a widening gap between AUSSOM’s operational requirements and the financing and logistical support available to the mission.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Team Retreat | 10 August 2026

The Amani Africa team held a retreat to collectively assess and learn from work undertaken since the beginning of the year. It also created space to reflect on team welfare, the balance between increasing demand for Amani Africa’s work and available staffing and resources, and how to consolidate growth while maintaining focus on the organisation’s core areas of work.